Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Programs

ASD Horizon

The ASD Horizon Program offers intensive intervention to students on the Autism Spectrum who are experiencing a moderate degree of challenge with social, behavioral, and communication development. In collaboration with a clinical consultant from the New England Center for Children (NECC) and as ASD coach, classroom staff and related service personnel work together to provide individualized and targeted interventions designed to maximize each student’s level of social and behavioral functioning. Services are based on the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and are adjusted to meet the needs of each student in the program.

ASD NEST

The ASD Nest Program serves students with ASD and typically developing students in a reduced class-size Integrated Co-Teaching (ICT) model, with one special education teacher and one general education teacher. As students get older, the class size increases, as does the ratio of students with autism to typically developing students. There is no classroom paraprofessional in this model.

Staff receive training in specialized teaching strategies for students with ASD, including Social Development Intervention (SDI) developed by NYU. SDI is an evidence-based program that supports the social/emotional development of ASD Nest students.

As in all NYCDOE schools, ASD Nest Program classes use the Common Core Learning Standards (CCLS). ASD Nest Program classes combine CCLS and SDI to improve social understanding while also supporting academic success. SDI is taught in small groups and reinforced throughout the day.

Related service providers use SDI to help students develop relationships and improve social functioning. This pragmatic (social) language curriculum is taught in small groups of ASD Nest students and reinforced by classroom teachers.